Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;artist orange&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Artist Orange’ characterized by its medium sized daisy-type blooms with yellow/red ray-florets and green disc florets.

RELATED CULTIVARS

‘Artist Orange’ is related to ‘Artist Yellow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,806), of which it is a color mutant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Artist Orange.’ is a product of a breeding and selection program which had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Artist Yellow’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occurring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named ‘Artist Yellow’ . A comparison with parent chrysanthemum ‘Artist Yellow’ is also made in this application. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in 2002. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Artist Orange’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2002 in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized daisy blooms with orange/red ray-florets and green disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium L. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 54 days. After the long day period to flowering plant growth retardants were applied once in a dose of 2 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. The plant is sensitive to infestation by Powdery Mildew. The plant is tolerant to low night temperatures. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with yellow/red ray-florets and green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Artist Orange’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 1 and week 35 under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Artist Orange’ is ‘Artist Yellow’ and ‘Orange Reagan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,769). When ‘Artist Orange’, ‘Artist Yellow’, and ‘Orange Reagan’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: All three plants have daisy-type blooms. The difference of ‘Artist Orange’, ‘Artist Yellow’ and ‘Orange Reagan’ is the color of the ray-florets. In ‘Orange Reagan’ this color is orange, while it is in ‘Artist Orange’ a pattern of red streaks on an orange background, and in ‘Artist Yellow’ red streaks on a yellow background.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Artist Orange ’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995. TABLE 1 Botanical Description of chrysanthemum plant ‘FLORINA’ Bud Size Small; cross-section 0.5 cm, height 0.5 cm Outside Color Green 139B Involucral bracts 2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among disc-florets Not present Involucral bracts color Green 139B Bloom Type Daisy Height 0.5 cm Size Small Fully Expanded 3.5 cm Peduncle length 5.5 cm Peduncle color Green 138B Number of blooms per branch Approx. 7 blooms per branch Performance on the plant 4 weeks Seeds Produced in small quantities, ovate grey-brown 199A, 1½ mm in length. Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slightly sweet Color Center of the flower (disc-florets) Immature Yellow-orange 14A with dot of Green 143C Mature Yellow 13A Color of upper surface of the ray- Yellow 12A florets Color of the lower surface of the Yellow 12B ray-florets Tonality from Distance A garden mum with yellow flowers and a yellow disc Discoloration to color Yellow 12A Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 40 Cross-section Flat Longitudinal axis of majority Straight Length of corolla tube 0.3 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 1.5 cm Ray-floret width 0.4 cm Ratio length/width High Shape of tip Pointed Disc florets Disc diameter 1 cm Distribution of disc florets Numerous, clearly visible at all stages of flowering Shape Tubular Receptacle shape Conical raised Reproductive Organs Stamen present in disc florets only Stamen color Yellow-green 144A Pollen Present Pollen color Yellow 7A Styles Thick Style color Yellow 13A Style Length 4 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 154D Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant Form Grown as a spray type potmum, outdoor mounded and round Growth habit Spherical shape Growth rate High Height 25 cm Width 45 cm Stem Color Greyed-brown 199B Stem Strength Weak Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Absent Internode length 1.5-2 cm Length of lateral branch From top to bottom 11 cm Lateral branch color Yellow-green 144A Lateral branch, attachment Medium strength Branching (average number of Prolific with 10-12 breaks lateral branches) after pinching Natural season blooming date SEPTEMBER 27- OCTOBER 3 (WEEK 40) Foliage Leaf color Upper side Green 138A-139 A Lower side Green 138A-138B Color midvein Upper side Yellow-green 147D Lower side Yellow-green 148D Size Small.; length 3-3.5 cm, width 1.7-2 cm Quantity (number per lateral 20 branch) Shape Ovate Texture upper side Glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Serrated Shape of Base of Sinus Between Rounded Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Lateral Diverging Lobes Shape of Base Acute Apex Mucronulate Petiole lenght 0.5 cm Petiole color Yellow-green 147D

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison Varieties ‘Artist ‘Artist ‘Orange Orange’ Yellow’ Reagan’ Color upper side Orange 29A Yellow-orange Greyed-orange ray-florets and Red 45B 14B and 169A-169B Red 46A Color lower side Greyed-orange Yellow-orange Greyed-orange ray-florets 164C and 14C and 163B greyed-orange Red 46B 173B 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 